Abstract Anodic oxidation of hexamethylbenzene (1) in acetonitrile with Bu 4 NBF 4 as electrolyte at a platinum anode at+ 1.7 V (versus Ag/0.01 M Ag+) gives mainly 1, 3-bis (acetamidomethyl)-2, 4, 5, 6-tetramethylbenzene (6). The mechanism of this electrochemical difunctionalisation of a hydrocarbon is discussed on the basis of product studies, in situ specular reflectance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, analysis at a rotating disc ...
